Stakeholders Meet On Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony of Ekamra Project In Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: The preparatory meeting for Bhumi Pujan (foundation stone laying) ceremony of Ekamra Kshetra Amenities & Monuments Revival Plan held at the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) was held in Bhubaneswar on Saturday.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will lay the foundation stone of the project on June 28 while the Bhumi Pujan ceremony will be held from June 26 to 28. The ceremony will be organised by Lingaraj Temple Trust Board with the help of servitors of the temple while Balwant Singh, Vice-Chairman, BDA is the chief coordinator.

At the preparatory meeting, detailed discussion was held on various aspects of the Bhumi Pujan ceremony including yagna and cultural programmes during the three-day long event. As lakhs of devotees are expected to gather, detailed plan was chalked out for the programmes.

Representatives of various sevayat nijogs (servitor bodies) and local corporators participated in the meeting where special focus was given on parking, sanitation, electricity and drinking water facilities.

Among others, Ashok Chandra Panda, Minister of Science & Technology, Public Enterprises, Social Security & Empowerment of Persons with Disability; Ananta Narayan Jena, MLA Bhubaneswar (Central); Susant Kumar Rout, MLA Bhubaneswar (North); Sulochana Das, Mayor, Bhubaneswar; Balwant Singh, Vice-Chairman, BDA; Vijay Amruta Kulange, Commissioner, BMC; K Sudarshan Chakrabarty, Collector, Khurda; Prateek Singh, DCP, Bhubaneswar were present at the meeting.

The Ekamra Kshetra Amenities & Monuments Revival Plan includes construction of Lingaraj Entry Plaza, Bhajan Mandap, Heritage Park and Kedar Gouri plaza, complete pedestrianisation of the Bindu Sagar road, rejuvenation of Bindu Sagar and other holy ponds, Lingaraj Heritage Project, redevelopment of Kedargauri and Mukteswar temple premises, e-auto service and seamless traffic management facility.